Free surface load

Parameters

Name	Is used for the identification of the load.
Direction	Specifies the base direction of the load.
Type	The load may be a force load, wind load, snow load or predefined load.
Distribution	The load may be either constant across the slab or linearly variable (trapezoidal).
Value	Specifies the size of the load.
Validity	Defines the validity of the load – see chapter Introduction to free loads for more information.
Select	It is possible to define if all suitable members will be subject to this load or if only selected members are supposed to be affected by this particular load.
System	Defines the co-ordinate system in which the load is applied.
Location	Specifies whether the load is "put directly on an inclined member" or whether the "projection on plan" is defined. (Applicable only for loads defined in GCS system).

$image\slabloadfree.gif$

If the loaded slab is perpendicular to the plane of the defined free load, and the plane of the free load intersects the slab, and option Select is set to Selected, and the slab is selected, then the load is always generated on the whole slab regardless of the real action-area (see the image below).